Early life and education

Marriage and family

George and Barbara Bush became engaged in 1943 and married in January 1945.[1] She was the mother to former President George W. Bush, former FloridaGovernorJeb Bush, Neil Bush, Marvin Bush, Dorothy Bush, and Pauline Bush, who died at the age of four from leukemia. George W. Bush's daughter, Barbara Pierce Bush, is named for her grandmother.

In 2016, Mrs. Bush campaigned for her son, Jeb, in the Republican presidential primary in New Hampshire. She was photographed with her walker in the cold weather trying to convince voters of her son's qualifications. Earlier, she had discouraged her son from seeking the presidency because of the "family dynasty" consideration. Jeb Bush's candidacy went nowhere, and the party chose the outsider candidate, Donald Trump. George and Barbara Bush indicated that they voted for the unsuccessful Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton in the race against Trump though all the Bushes owed their longstanding political careers to Republican voters. George W. Bush would not say whether he voted for Trump or Clinton. Jeb's son, George P. Bush, the Republican land commissioner in Texas, did endorse Trump; he is the only Bush family member holding elected office and faces voters again in the November 6 general election.

Second Lady

Bush served as the Second Lady during Ronald Reagan's presidency from 1981 to 1989, while her husband served as Vice President.

First Lady

Bush served as the First Lady during her husband's presidency from 1989 to 1992.

After the White House

Rarely has a First Lady been greeted by the American people and the press with the approbation and warmth accorded to Barbara Pierce Bush. Perhaps this is prompted by the image she calls "everybody's grandmother." People are comfortable with her white hair, her warm, relaxed manner, and her keen wit. With characteristic directness, she says people like her because they know "I'm fair and I like children and I adore my husband."[2]

Death at 92

Mrs. Bush died at her home in Houston at the age of ninety-two just a few days after she announced that she would no longer seek medical treatment for her chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and Graves' disease. Instead, she would accept only "comfort care."[3][4]